News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Egypt has contradicted Hamas claims that the re-opening of the Rafiah crossing is not connected to the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Khaled Mashaal has claimed that Hamas "succeeded" in removing the issue of Shalit from re-opening the crossing.

Voice of Israel government radio reported Wednesday morning that Egyptian officials said the Rafiah passage will be open one or two days a week and will be open all the time only when final arrangements are secured for freeing the soldier, who was kidnapped two years ago this month in a terrorist attack that killed two other troops.